Beaches
are continuously changing – from day to day, month to month and year to year
– as the natural forces of wind and water meet the land. These changes, which
have been taking place for millions of years, are linked to variations in wind,
waves, currents and sea level height.

But
it is not just natural forces that change the beach, humans have a big role
to play in this process as well, through mining stones and sand from
the beaches, polluting and damaging coral reefs, and constructing buildings
and walls too close to the sea.

Changes
in the beaches affect everyone. The coast is a place we are all attracted to
for recreation, sports and simple enjoyment. This constantly changing and hazard-prone
coastal environment is also where important infrastructure (roads, ports, buildings) is
concentrated. Especially in Montserrat, where the recent volcanic activity has
rendered so much of the island unsafe for living, the state of its beaches is of
major importance.

Natural
forces

Hurricanes
and tropical storms, occurring between June and November, cause dramatic
beach changes usually resulting in serious beach erosion.

High
waves in winter resulting from storms in the North Atlantic Ocean, and known
as swell waves, or locally as ‘groundseas’.

Sea-level
rise, which is a long-term factor, taking place very slowly over decades
causes shorelines to retreat inland.

Since
1995, the Atlantic Basin (including the Atlantic Ocean, the Caribbean Sea, and
the Gulf of Mexico) has entered a more active hurricane cycle, which may
continue for more than 20 years.

Removing
sand from beaches and adjacent areas for construction purposes causes erosion and the
loss of beaches and coastal lands, destroying the natural heritage of the
coast and reducing the vibrancy of the tourism industry.

Building
too close to the beach interferes with the natural sand movement and may
impede beach recovery after a serious storm or hurricane.

Badly
planned sea defences may cause the loss of the beach, and of neighbouring
beaches.

Pollution
from human activities on the land may damage coral reefs and seagrass beds;
these biological systems protect, and provide sand to the beaches.

In
order to manage these changes, Montserrat’s beaches have been
monitored since 1990 by the Ministry of Agriculture, Land, Housing and
the Environment, and more recently by the Fisheries Division. They
measure the beach slope and width every three months at several sites
around the island. During the volcanic emergency, 1995-1998, monitoring
was interrupted, but recommenced in 1999.

Location
of monitored beaches in Montserrat

Little Bay, 1990

***********

SAND
IN,
SAND
OUT

When
Hurricane Luis struck in 1995, much of the beach was lost at Fox’s Bay on the
west coast and at other beaches. In the months and years after the hurricane,
the beaches recovered to some extent, but were further impacted by Hurricane
Georges in 1998, and Hurricane Lenny in 1999.

Montserrat
has been impacted by several serious hurricanes in the past 25 years: David in
1979, Hugo in 1989, Luis in 1995, Georges in 1998 and Lenny in 1999. These
resulted in serious damage to the beach and coastal environment as well as
man-made infrastructure.

Plymouth
collection area for
galvanized
sheeting after
Hurricane Hugo
1989

Abandoned snackette
at Fox’s Bay after
Hurricane Lenny, 1999

Road damage at
Carr’s Bay after
Hurricane Georges,
1998

The
foundationsof
this house at Carr’s
Bay werewashed
out during
Hurricane Georges,
1998

***********

HERE
TODAY,
GONE TOMORROW

The table
shows generalized rates of change at the measured beaches in Montserrat between
1990 and 1996. During this period most of the beaches showed erosion, a result,
at least in part, of the impact of several severe hurricanes. However, most
beaches in Montserrat show erosion along one part of the beach and accretion (or
build-up) at adjacent sections, thus these figures must be treated as average
trends.

Beach
change rates in Montserrat (metres per year)

A
negative rate of change (–) indicates erosion and retreat of the shoreline, a
positive
rate of
change (–) indicates accretion or advancement of the shoreline
towards the sea

Measuring the
sand loss at
Bunkum Bay in
1990 after
Hurricane Hugo

Many of
Montserrat’s west coast beaches are
sandy in the summer months but covered with
stones in the winter months, as seen here at
Bunkum Bay, 1995

***********

WISE
PRACTICES FOR A HEALTHY BEACH

Seagrape trees,
such as seen
here at Fox’s Bay
in 1994, help to
stabilise the sand
as well as
providing shade

The state
of the beach affects everyone’s lives. Montserrat faces special problems as it
rebuilds its infrastructure after the volcanic activity, especially since only a
few beaches are accessible in the ‘safe’ zone. There are no simple or
universal solutions to shoreline erosion, since there are often several factors,
both human and natural, contributing to the problem at a particular beach. Each
beach behaves differently, so it is advisable to find out as much information as
possible about a particular beach before taking any corrective action. It is
necessary to consult the Ministry of Agriculture before undertaking any action
at a beach.

Some
forces of change, such as hurricanes and winter swells are natural, and there is
little we can do to stop them, yet there are ways we can help to slow down the
rate of erosion:

Planning new
development so that it is a ‘safe’ distance behind the beach will reduce
the need for expensive sea defence measures in the future.

Ensuring new
development is
a
‘safe’
distance
from the
dynamic
beach zone,
helps
conserve the
beach and
the buildings

Buildings close to the beach
are vulnerable to erosion

Buildings at a ‘safe’
distance from the beach are less
vulnerable to erosion

Rock revetments, as here
in Plymouth in 1981,
protect roads and buildings from wave action, but
they do not promote beach build-up

Resorting
to ‘hard’ engineering structures such as seawalls, revetments and
bulkheads, only when there is a need to protect beachfront property from
wave action. Such structures, even with careful design, result in the loss
or narrowing of the beach over time.

Considering
all other beach enhancement measures such as offshore breakwaters, groynes
and beach nourishment (placing sand from the offshore zone or from an inland
source on the beach) at a particular site. All such measures require careful
design and environmental impact assessments, so always first consult the
Ministry of Agriculture.

Groynes,
such
as seen here at
Sugar Bay in
1989, result in
sand build-up on
one side, but
erosion on the
other side

One of the
challenges
facing Montserrat
is to find uses for
the recently
deposited
volcanic material,
seen here in the
Belham Valley,
1999…

…So that beautiful beaches
such as Iles Bay
(1999) can be conserved and wisely managed

***********

WISE
PRACTICESCHECKLIST

Plan
for existing and future coastline change by positioning all
new development (large and small) a ‘safe’ distance landward of the
vegetation line (consult the Physical Planning Department for information on ‘safe’ distances).

Review
and carefully consider ALL options when planning ways to slow
down the rate of coastline change, these should include planning,
ecological and engineering measures.

Continue
to monitor the rate of coastline change and share the
findings with all other stakeholders.

Coordinate an
integrated approach to beach management,
by ensuring that individuals, the general public, governmental
and non-governmental agencies are involved and work together.

Promote the
concept of coastal stewardship and
the importance of conserving Montserrat's remaining beaches for
the social benefit of its residents, as well as its growing
tourism industry.

Respect
the rights of all beach users.

Stop the unsustainable practice of mining sand and stonesfrom the
remaining beaches in the safe zone, and utilise alternative sources of
construction material.

Provide
for public access to all beachesin the safe zone,
and where appropriate provide facilities for beach users (e.g.
parking, safety measures, sanitary facilities).

Carefully
manage those beacheswhich
are important turtle nesting sites.

Conserve
and restore vegetative cover, both adjacent to the beach in
order to stabilise the sand, and further inland to reduce sediment
reaching the reefs and seagrass beds.